So, Do Quail Mate for Life?

Some of the most touching stories out of the animal kingdom are ones that relate to our own. For instance, did you know that some animals mate for life like people do?

It’s true, and these same species often get depressed or enter a period of mourning (whales, dolphins) if something happens to their mate.

This behavior is especially common among birds. Take quails, for instance. Do quails mate for life?

Yes, some quail species like Gambel’s mate for life. Other species are what is known as serially or seasonally monogamous, stying committed to their partner until their young have fully fledged from the nest. Some other species aren’t monogamous at all, mating only to reproduce and then moving on immediately.

It’s definitely a moving thought to know that these little birds might meet, fall in love, raise a family and then stay with each other until the bitter end.

Nonetheless, this is just another one of the many wonders and mysteries that nature has in store for us, and if you want to learn more I will tell you all about the mating habits and monogamous tendencies of quails down below.

Fully Monogamous	Serially Monogamous	Polygamous
Gambel’s	California Quail	Bobwhite
Button		Scaled
King Quail		Common Quail
		Japanese quail
		Coturnix
		Northern Bobwhite
		Blue Quail

You can read more about how scientists have studied mating behavior in some species of quail here.

How Often Will Quails Mate?

Quails are known to be generally social animals that mate frequently. They reach sexual maturity early in life, with males reaching maturity at about 8 weeks of age, and females at about 10 weeks of age.

Quail mating “tempo” is influenced by various factors, with the most significant being environmental pressures and the availability of food and water.

During the mating season, the males perform elaborate courtship displays to attract a suitable mate. They will often engage in vocalizations, such as calling and crowing, to attract females.

Once the male has secured the interest of (or subdued) a female, they will engage in mating activities which can occur several times a day to ensure fertilization.

The frequency of quail mating is also influenced by the female’s brooding behavior. Female quails will typically lay a clutch of eggs once they have found a mate.

They will then incubate these eggs for about three weeks, during which time they will remain close to their nest and will not mate.

Quails mating [Animal Behaviour Documentary]

What Season Do Quails Usually Mate?

The mating season for quails typically begins in early to mid spring, peaks in late spring or early summer, and ends in late summer or early fall.

There are regional variations, however, so the exact timing may be different for specific species.

In some cases, quails will mate and breed more than once a year. This is especially common in environments where food or water supplies are plentiful, and environmental concerns (think predators) are low to non-existent.

Do All Quail Mate for Life?

No. Various quail species are known to display a wide range of mating practices, with some species being truly monogamous, while others are serially or “seasonally” monogamous – and some are not monogamous at all!

Some species, such as California quail, Gambel’s quail, King quail and Button quail, are known to be monogamous but varyingly so.

California quail are serially monogamous, meaning that they pair up and mate with the same partner for until the young are raised and fledged from the nest.

Gambel’s quail are truly monogamous, with partnerships lasting for life, though on rare occasions females might leave with the young once they are almost ready to fly.

King quail are truly monogamous, til death do them part. Meanwhile Button quail are similarly committed unto death.

Elsewhere, we see quail species that are decidedly less so. Bobwhite quail and Scaled quail are known to be polygamous, meaning that they mate with more than one partner and raise their young independently.

Some species of quail, such as Common Quail and Blue Quail, are not monogamous and engage in promiscuous mating practices but might settle in with a partner temporarily for mutual support, and in some regions they show a tendency toward temporary monogamy.

Overall, the mating practices of quail species vary widely depending on natural tendencies and many other factors.

Do Quails Need Mates? Do they Have To?

Yes and no. All quail have an instinctive urge to find a mate and reproduce, however temporary or permanent that joining might be.

Certainly for some quail mating with and living alongside partner is a survival strategy since it allows one parent to watch the eggs or young continually while the other goes out to look for food or keeps an eye out for predators.

Yet depending on the species, it is possible for a single quail to raise offspring without a partner’s assistance, all by themselves.

In the wild, quails are typically more successful when they have a mate to provide them with protection and assistance during the nesting period.

However, an individual quail does not necessarily need a mate to survive outside of reproduction, and they are all more than capable of living and thriving on their own.

Quails may not always need a mate, but they certainly benefit from the companionship and in some cases, the safety that comes with it!

Will Quail Families Stay Together?

Usually not, but sometimes they will! Adult quails will typically stay together for the duration of the nesting period, generally until their eggs hatch and the young quails are able to fly.

At this point, in some species, the male will leave though occasionally the female will leave with the chicks in tow, as with Gambel’s quail.

In truly monogamous quail species, mom and dad will mate again in the following season after the young reach adolescence and are capable of living on their own.

And that is not counting the kids, of course! Most quail that are able to fly will soon leave the nest and set out on their own.

But some species, like California quail, show a tendency toward communal group behavior, almost like colonies, where related and friendly quail may congregate and live in close proximity to one another.

In such a case, it isn’t out of the question that you could have several generations of quails living nearby. That’s a nice thought, eh?

When Will a Quail Look for a New Mate?

Quail will look for new mates, after mating, depending once again on species proclivities.

For truly monogamous pairings, this typically only occurs when a mate dies or goes missing, and only then after an extended period of mourning when the surviving quail will take time to prepare itself before seeking out a new partner.

In polygamous species, and in those with tendencies towards promiscuity, quails will start looking for new or additional mates even while their current mate is still alive, and sometimes even with them!

In short, whether quails are monogamous or not, the emphasis is on reproduction and the transmission of genetic information. Different species just use different mating strategies to accomplish this goal.